Secretary of State Marco Rubio seemed aghast that Iran would shut down the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S. started a war with the country.
Speaking to reporters at a White House press briefing Tuesday, Rubio bragged about the destruction of Iran’s military while acknowledging the country still has complete control over the Strait of Hormuz, a major international shipping lane that has affected the global economy with its closure.
“If we live in a world where this rogue state like this Iranian regime is allowed to claim as a new normal ― control of an international shipping lane ― it will not be long before you see that happen in multiple shipping lanes around the world,” Rubio warned. “I can identify for you six or seven vital shipping lanes around the world that some countries can decide, ‘Guess what? if Iran was able to do it, we’re going to do it too. We’re now going to start charging tolls.’ And it’ll get closer and closer to us, and that’s unacceptable.”
Rubio left out that this problem would not exist had President Donald Trump not decided to go to war with Iran in February. Prior to the bombings, the strait ― a major artery for the world’s oil supply ― was open. Now, Iran has blocked the strait and is charging massive tolls for ships to get through.
